>>697511
Glad to have you back, QG
Was the third thread where we ere sorting out what a post-apocalypse character would be?

>>697511
was it this thread?
https://yuki.la/qst/574451

The great wheel always turns. Fortuna. Samsara. The grinding wheel. Where what is risen falls and what is fallen rises-only to fall in turn.

The grinding wheel. Hopes. Dreams. Gristle for the wheel.

The white desert, burning with light from a cloudless sky. This is what the wheel produces. Dust. A sea of dust. The metal bones of towering sky scrapers are dust. The people of the old world with their lives and fears and loves are dust. The living carpet of green forest and furtive animals-all dust.

It was not evil that called the desert. It was not evil sacrificed to the wheel. The gods made their camps in the old war with the best of intentions. The rebels, the Matsyas, the remnants-and the ones that stood apart-they all fought for the best of humanity.

Here is the best of humanity now. In the white dust.

This is what they fought for. This is what they died for.

Mountains of dust.

-Mother White Stalk, "My memories of the world that was"

>>697559
That's it! I could kiss you anon!

Now I don't have to run character creation again!

>>697581
Well a little character generation actually.

COYOTE

OR

THUNDERBIRD

>>697581
If I remember correctly, the final vote lead to
>Unaligned
>Lone Wanderer
>Thunderbird
>Boy

>>697600
We tied with Thunderbird or Coyote, but everything else is right.

>>697611
Okay, well then

>>697599
>THUNDERBIRD

>>697600
>>697627

Up here, where there are only stars and darkness and the faintest grey clouds you can almost pretend the world below you is whole again. You can almost pretend that when you climb the air on your massive wings that you somehow fly back in time to a world of department stores and radio and television and coca-cola.

If you don't look toward the moon the sky is the same sky it has always been.

You unfurl your wings. Their spiky tips churn the air as biolumenescent feathers illuminate your shadowed bulk in faint gold light. You're leeching electricity from the air. It's a trick a man named Rook told you about long ago. Its not filling and it makes you feel weak, and eventually it will not be enough.

But for now it satiates you. For now you feel that you will go on, for now.

....They said they were going to save the world. They all said that.

You thought they were all full of shit.

You were right.

And now here, alone on the night currents, you wish you were wrong.

There's very little left to save now. But you will do what you can.

Your wings fold against you with a booming snap. The golden nurturing light dies. You falls back down to Earth throug the black night like an enormous vulture ready to pick among the ruins of Earth. You hear the wind hiss as it shatters against your steel-thick feathers. You feel a faint chill run down in the grooves of your armored breast. And you know, you are alone again, alive again.

BIOARMOR MANU APOCALYPSE: THUNDERHEAD
-cont

>>697771

Your home lies beneath your feet in the crushed sand of the old world. You wander the graveyard of America looking for live eking out a living the dark places to help.

When you became a Manu your grandfather told you the story of the Thunderbirds, benevolent magical creatures that brought rain and life. He said that you were a Thunderbird. Not a monster, not a bioweapon, but a Thunderbird.

They say the war was fought between gods. But you know different. It was fought between people, people that struggled and failed to hold the world together. Even the Matsyas were people, lonely, desperate, needy people.

You didn't pick sides during the war. You found too much wrong with every side. You were unaligned and-

KEPT YOUR HEAD DOWN TRYING TO FIGHT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE

FOUGHT THE MATSYAS WHILE NEVER OFFICIALLY JOINING THE REMNANTS OR REBELS

FOUGHT ALL SIDES HOPING TO GET THEM ALL TO SEE REASON

FOUGHT FOR A MATSYA CONTROLLED WORLD WHILE NEVER RECOGNIZING THE MATSYA COUNCIL

>>697894
>FOUGHT ALL SIDES HOPING TO GET THEM ALL TO SEE REASON

Our heart is so bleeding we have a red stain on our chest

>>697894
>FOUGHT ALL SIDES HOPING TO GET THEM ALL TO SEE REASON

File: tegaki.png (82 KB, 400x400)

82 KB PNG

There you go

File: tegaki.png (86 KB, 400x400)

86 KB PNG

Cleaned it up a bit

>>698047
Neat!

>>697928
>>697930
You were unaligned and fought all sides hoping to get them to see reason. You tried to stop them, you tried to just bring the entire crash course the war set for humanity to a stop. Before it was over you even killed a some of them as things spun out of control and the population of Earth started declining by the minute. You, like they, fought for everyone. But you fought for everyone by fighting everyone. You just wanted the war to stop. You just wanted there to be peace again. You had friends before the war. You wanted that again. You wanted that again so bad you were willing to fight the war without anyone by your side.

And yet, although you were different and alone, you failed like everyone else.

But for you the war is not over. The rebels fought to control civilization. The Matsyas fought to change civilization. The remnants fought to preserve civilization. Civilization is gone. Those that fought for it are now solitary monsters, guardian gods, lonely wanderers, or insane raiders.

But you fight for people. And there are still people in the world. Even if you are as lonely as when you first started fighting this war you will still fight.

For the survivors. For the ones that refuse to be taken by the dust.

Your grandfather was a great scientist. He transformed you from a man into a Manu because-

YOU WERE A SCIENTIST YOURSELF FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.

BECAUSE HIS SIDE NEEDED A WARRIOR AND KNEW WAR WAS COMING.

BECAUSE HE KNEW A WAR WAS COMING AND THOUGHT YOU STOOD THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING AS A MANU.

>>698169
>BECAUSE HE KNEW A WAR WAS COMING AND THOUGHT YOU STOOD THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING AS A MANU.

If only because i enjoyed playing Prey sequel when?

>>698169
>BECAUSE HIS SIDE NEEDED A WARRIOR AND KNEW WAR WAS COMING.

Slow night, eh? Don't worry, it'll pick up tomorrow, being friday and all that.

>>698499
I hope so

>>698499
>>698593
>>698201
>>698217

Tied vote so far. I think it'll pick up tomorrow.

I hope running three quests doesn't divide up the vote...

>Prey

I remember it being pretty fun. One of the few games where you got to mow down kids, even if they were demon possessed kids.

>>698201
This, lets see what the survival skillset gives us.

...He made you a Manu because he knew what was coming and thought you'd stand the best chance of lasting if you were a Manu.

Mom thought he was insane. She thought it would make you a target by all sides. And it did. In the early days of the war no one thought humanity would be involved. It was supposed to be a war fought in the shadows. They invented a cabal of super-scientist terrorist to explain away the explosions that happened at the remotest parts on Earth, the fire seen in the sky the arctic circle, the series of earthquakes in the Australian outback.

But Grandfather was right. The war couldn't be fought in the shadows forever.

When the real fighting started it was indeed far luckier to be a Manu. The reality storms passed over them like a cold breeze.

He just wanted you to live. He had a cabin set up in the painted desert. You were supposed to stay there and pray he was wrong about the future.

You left. You fought. You failed.

And now there's no painted desert. And Grandfather is gone. He did not die well. The last time you talked it him was over the quickly dying Besant. His voice was drowning in a sea of voices.

He couldn't believe that Asia was gone. Just gone. In seconds. He kept shouting at the voices for someone to answer him, someone to make sense of things. He kept shouting your name. He could not hear you.

Someone kept a running tally of the number of humans left on Earth. Some were crying. Some were laughing.

They say the Matsyas were the gods of the ancient world. That they were Yahweh and Thor and Zeus. But if that is true then why did you hear them praying? Who was it they prayed to?

Some, like you, fought to the bitter end to save as many as you could. But by the end everything was on fire and you could only watch invincible in the maelstrom as buildings and people dissolved into a snow storm of dust. Everything was on fire and all you could do was feel cold.

The gravity gate had collapsed too close to Earth. Something happened in Tokyo. Something about the sides wanting to harness a powerful esper, to transform them into a Manu that would win the war for them.

Something went horribly wrong and the gravity gate exploded. Not even the Mats knew that could happen and they created it.

And as everything died you tried one last time to touch the mind of your Grandfather to say goodbye, but it was too late. Everything had been too late. The Besant was a thin blur of emotions that you could barely feel. You weren't sure if you were feeling your own fear or the fear of someone else. The entire world was mourning and it was only through the resonance of such strong feelings that the Besant was able to keep alive as long as it did.

You said goodbye to the shadow and the shadow said goodbye back. Manu all over the world couldn't say goodbye to any single person, so they said their goodbyes into the thin remnant ghost of the Besant. It made one last feeling. One last thought. Goodbye, I love you.

-cont

>>699339
And then the darkness closed around the Besant like a lid around an eye and it was gone.

And then there was silence. And the silence was the worst thing of all.

You still have nightmares about the last hours of the Besant. You don't think you will ever stop

-cont
You touched down somewhere over what you think can be called "once Texas". Its hard to get a handle on geography. Reality storms keep moving things around. But they at least they do it in patterns. It allows the Eggheads in City to construct maps such as the one you retrieve form the folds of your enormous cloak.

Its black screen lights up with a green grid as you twist at its handles. A little motor hums and kicks against your chest. A twist of sensor rods vibrates and glow red. In about a minute the grid fills with lines and numbers and letters. You have a map.

You remember when maps were plastic covered paper you could fold up. Such things belong to the old world. Maps are now thick bundles of circuits and plastic, the sturdier the better. Scientists in City make them out of scrap and try to distribute as many as possible to help keep trade routes open. They sample the surrounding radiation and check results with a built in database to create a map based on reality storm cycles.

Geography is always changing, but so is your map.

Its one of the good things about being a-

WHAT ARE YOU POST-WAR?

AN EXPLORER. YOU FILL IN THE BLANKS ON THE MAPS AND FIND SURVIVORS.

A HUNTER. A LOT OF MANU HAVE GONE INSANE FROM HUNGER FOLLOWING THE WAR. INCURABLY INSANE.

A TRADER. YOU BRING A MODICUM OF CIVILIZATION BACK TO CITY AND HIS SURROUNDING SETTLEMENTS.

>>699355
>A trader
I like the idea of
>ALL POWERFUL ZAP CHICKEN.
"Yeah,that'll be like 5 bucks."

>>699355
>A trader
We can keep everything in stock, but we still can't bring back the rain

>>698907
Is was a pretty standard FPS experience with neat little mechanics that turned it into a puzzle game of sorts.
Aesthetics were top notch.
The kids were more like evil spirits gtting into the bodies of children and bursting out having taken the shape of the mold.

The sequel as a parkour cowboy bounty hunter in not!Corucant? Never ever.

>>699372
>>699434

Its one of the good things about being a trader. They give you a pretty good map to carry around. The thing can even work as a radio and store information on cassette tapes. You can even write in it like a journal. The eggheads at City keep trying to get people to record transactions on it because its safer than putting it on paper, but its hard convincing people to switch from pen and paper to touching a black screen.

You think its sort of neat.

You double check your course. You're right on track to make your destination by sunrise. Its a little Settlement named Flowers after the pretty stuff that used to grow everywhere. You got a backpack and a couple of belts full of trade goods-extra maps, blankets, tools, food and water, and most precious of all-bacti-batteries, Manu food basically.

The factions used to say that the world depended on the Manu for survival. Now its really true. Manu power the generators the local reality around the settlements into something that can grow crops. Without it you'd have a lot of dust and a lot of cold and very little light, and its only gotten worse sense the Earth started moving away from the sun. The natural environment outside settlements is as dead as the moon. So humanity needs the Manu, and the Manu need the bacti. Otherwise they'd default to little DEVOUR tricks like you do and weaken.

Bacti is so precious that the very fact City produces it means that he doesn't need to employ muscle like other settlements. No one is stupid enough to try attacking City. Never bite the hand that feeds all of Once-America.

You trudge on through the dust. Your thoughts begin to focus on your arrival. You welcome the change. It sure beats thinking back to the war. You think about the sleepy farming community happy to see a Manu from City, happy to see someone bring supplies and news and reassurance. You'll show them the latest City gizmos-they have something like an Atari on your map-and show them how to set up a makeshift cinema with a projector you brought along and antique film reels. Joe gave you something called "Friday the 13th part 3" for them to see. You aren't sure how a day can have parts, but maybe its one of those artsy films he likes so much? And you'll see the kids, the little kids. Its always the best part of entering a town. To the kids you're like Santa Claus or a magician or a circus clown. You're the magical guy with the magical toys. And to you the kids are the future. Every time you see one you know that things are getting better, that a new generation has made it, that humanity carries on.

Linda started making toys-good ones, not like stuff made out of twigs and old cloth. They look almost like something that would come in a Happy Meal. You brought a few along with you. You hope the kids enjoy them.

"You there!"

An angry shout brings you out of your pleasant daydreams.

"Don't move!"

-cont

>>699565
Two figures fall out the sky and kick up a cloud of grey dust as they land. The force of their landing makes your cloak flutter like a thing alive.

"You from City? You a trader?" A harsh but clearly feminine voice asks. "Answer!"

Through the dust cloud you can't tell much about these two besides that they're obviously Manu.

"Yeah he's totally a trader. Just look at all the shit on him." The other one sounds like a girl as well. "Don't move buddy and we won't have to kill you."

"It won't come to that." The other adds. "Not if you do what we say. Now tell me if you're from City and we're you're going-and how much bacti you have on you."

SAY? DO?

>>699578
>Sigh
>"Why don't you tell me your names first. World might be dead, but that doesn't mean politeness is. Maybe after that, you tell me what this is all about, hm?"
>Don't make any moves until they do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z4rzwLbnFM

>>699578
>Introduce self
"Travel being what it is these days I'd have to check the map to be sure."
"But yeah, how about you two? I mean it always pays to get to know potential customers."
"So, what's with way-laying me? Do you need to for some reason or is this just fun for you two?"
"If it's family there are better ways to go about it than this..but if it's kids, I'd be worried about traveling."
>Be affable bird brain!
"That's make offering you a job a sight more difficult, if there were kids to worry about. Still, I could use a security detail, or some assistance...erm, assistants maybe."
"And that would probably be a good road into becoming a trader."
"At least, that's how I did it."
>Joke a bit
"So are you two manus? Work for one? What's the deal here?"
"Speaking of deals, this might not be necessary. My prices are pretty competitive."

>>699630
>>699628
Your sigh is muffled on the wind.
"Why don't you tell me you names first? World might be dead but that doesn't mean politeness is. Maybe after that, you tell me what this is all about hm?"

"Look at that. Fellow thinks he's a gentleman all polite and stuff."

"My name is Sara, and she's Lucy. What it matter anyway?"

"Well hello Sara, Lucy. I don't suppose you can tell me why you're way-laying me?"

"Just answer y questions first. Are you from City and how much bacti are you carrying?"

"Yes I'm from City. The name is Yiska."

"...Yiska?" One asks in a disgusted tone.

"What the fuck kind of name is Yiska?" The other asks pointedly. "Is that Russian or something?"

"Navajo actually."

"The fuck is Navajo?"

You sigh.

"An old people. Native Americans you know. Indians."

"You're an Indian? Didn't think there was any of you guys left. You're like Hawaiians or Australians or something. I think the Big One got you all."

"It very well may have. It very well may have."

"Check it Sara! We just found the last Navajo!"

Sara ignores her. "Just answer the damn question already. How much bacti are you carrying? Give me an exact number of units."

GIVE AN EXACT NUMBER?

LIE?

TELL HER YOU CAN'T UNLESS SHE TELLS YOU WHY SHE'S STOPPED YOU?

>>699804
>Be honest
Off the top of my head? I kinda forget.
I'm a little flighty like that.
If you tell me why, I might be inclined to check though.

>>699804
>TELL HER YOU CAN'T UNLESS SHE TELLS YOU WHY SHE'S STOPPED YOU

>>699818
>>699832
"Just off the top of my head? I kind of forgot. Sorry, I'm a little flighty like that...."

"You don't want to get cute with use pal." The smoke clears and you can see the two clearly. "We can make you regret it big time!"

Lucy stands with a fist cocked. She's a short woman with a big smile and big leather jacket. It hangs off her almost like a blanket. Its clearly too big for her. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

Sara has long red hair that falls down to the small of her back. Her expression is grim and serious. Her blue eyes watch you cautiously. She's tall, but only compared to her short partner.

"You best start remembering friend or I promise you there will be trouble. I don't care what kind of Manu you think you are. There's two of us and one of you. Your'e no Beetalion."

"You know if you tell me why you've stopped me maybe I'd be inclined to count my units again..."

"You're a brave one." Sara gives you a wry smile. "You know that? We got you by the balls and you run your mouth. Well okay. We're from Oak. You might be thinking you're headed to Flowers, and you'd be right. But this is Oak road."

"First time I've heard of it."

"I just became Oak road today. Consider yourself warned. Now you pay our toll we let you go. No bullshit. You go on and have a good time and we won't even bother you on your way back to City. Hell, bandits show up we'll protect you. This is our road. This is just a tax for using our road."

SAY? DO?

AGREE TO PAY THE TOLL?

REFUSE?

>>699876
>Make a counter-offer
>"Two Manu can do a powerful lot of good. Lot more than, uh, "protecting" a toll road. Why not work with me and the City? Could even work together, finding goods to trade. At the very least, it's company, yeah? That's a precious commodity these days."

>>699899
>>699876
Kinda this yeah.
And it's more honest work than plying your trade out here on Oak Road at any rate. Safer too, not pulling the whole line bandit thing."
"Might even be some sign on bonus or something. Who knows."
(If they agree I might be will to part with a little)

This thread got me in the mood for a little post-apocalyptia, so I'm rewatching Road Warrior.
Man, that little feral kid is real weird.

>>699565
>store information on cassette tapes
We Alien: Isolation now

>You're the magical guy with the magical toys
No, we Gandalf now

>>699899
>>699965
These

Also, i find it intersting they know of Beetalion. Did we pass onto history as a memory, are we alive? How do these people percieve us?
That comparison is fitting for both an all consuming monster and a hero

>>699899
>At the very least, it's company, yeah? That's a precious commodity these days
Are we attractive enough to pull this off?

>>700405
I mean, it's the apocalypse, how great could their options be?
Assuming they're of age, though I was more meaning it as mutual friendship, if not business partners.

>>700425
We are the last member of an ethnicity lost to the ages, also we have bitchin' plumage. We are good with kids and have a steady job.
We are at least a 7/10

>>700462
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DD_NCM_RJs

But do we have spurs?

File: Bitch we do.jpg (144 KB, 1350x981)

144 KB JPG

>>700465
We just jumped from 7/10 to 8/10. Just like that.

>>700465
Probably depending on which depiction of- oh like on our boots?
Nah.
Unless we have a horse.

>>700465
We're a Thunderbird Manu, if we cant drive a ford thunderbird then we better dress up like Burt Reynolds.

>>699899
>Start the crimson caravan company.
agreed.

>>700991
In such desperate times, nothing should be left to waste. So, even if someone threatens to rob you, there's no reason not to try and profit. We are, after all, just a humble scavenger.
Making use of society's garbage is our trade!

>>701026
Nigga we are a glorious thunderbird.
We'll pluck a rough gem or three from the refuse, but it is what it is.

WE STILL HAVE OUR PRIDE! MOSTLY

I just want to also be that, friendly, bantery, a bit profit/survivalist minded and to WRECK anything that we can't diplomacy via "fuck you I'm a thunder bird"
Then again, I was pulling for Coyote and all of these might be better suited to that, it's just hard to think of a depiction of a thunderbird that isn't a complete hardass and a pain to get on with.

I guess QG isn't coming back or doing Sibella Quest tonight either.
Hopefully he was just busy.

>>699899
>>699965
"You know, two Manu can do a powerful lot of good. A lot more than uh "protecting" a toll road. Why not work with me and City? He's always got work for-"

"No." Sara cuts you off. "No way in hell we're working for a Matsya. Those aliens fucked the entire planet."

You wish other things could have survived the apocalypse besides old grudges.

"You can tell you god-in-a-microchip to go screw."

You put on a goofy, friendly smile. "You know I might even be able to sign you two on with a bonus. Could be really lucrative. And when you're a trader instead of a bandit people welcome you into their towns instead of try and you know, kill you on sight. Its really nice. They make you dinner and everything."

"Woah woah woah there Apache Chief." Lucy wags a finger at you. "We are NOT bandits. We're guards. We claim this road for Oak town and we charge people for using it."

"No one owns the spaces between settlements though..."

"Well yeah, its why we decided to set up shop. If you're the first with a good idea you use it."

"No. I mean...come on. You guys know this is highwayman stuff."

"Says you! What gives you the right to say we can't own roads? City? What gives him the right to say that, because he makes bacti batteries? Well we got our own power and we say we own this road!"

"We aren't bandits." Sara says. "And this isn't a holdup. Not if you don't force us to transform. We play this like how you choose."

"You guys know working for City has got to be a lot safer than what you're doing. Just lying in wait like this makes you vulnerable to reality storms and monsters. Come on. You two could even work with me. At the very least its good company yeah? That in itself is a precious commodity these days."

"Heh...you're sort of cute in a scruffy kind of way." Lucy says. "Do a girl a favor and don't fight back. It would suck to break that pretty face of yours."

Sara sighs. "Enough playing around. How much bacti are you carrying? Don't make this harder than it has to be..."

SAY? DO?

TRANSFORM?

TRY TO INTIMIDATE THEM?

TELL THEM THAT THE BACTI IS FOR INNOCENT FARMERS?

LIE ABOUT THE BACTI YOU HAVE?

TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BACTI YOU HAVE?

AGREE TO PAY THEIR TOLL?

>>703134
Yeah, life has been kicking my ass. Going to get some sleep so I can update my quests tomorrow.

File: download.png (7 KB, 225x225)

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>>703268
SAY? DO?

"WOOPWOOPWOOPWOOPWOOP"

TRANSFORM AND OUT RUN THEM.

>>703268
"Look. I don't just have a lot of extra bacti on me. I have just enough for the settlement plus me... I think"
>Check notes on bacti
"They don't exactly just have people throwing tons of excess around...still if it's a matter of you starving I guess I could cut my own ration a little short...not really willing to screw over a bunch of isolated farmers though..."
"So you can have... probably less than you'd like, or get ready to transform now. Fair warning."

>>703373
>>703268
"I'd like to think you're in direr straits though than just...tax collecting to just keep forcing on at this, but I guess I am getting behind schedule. So...good luck"
>Transform!
>Electricity...sorta almost smoke screen!
>Fly Birdman fly!

>>703268
>>703373
>>703382
>Tell the truth mostly
Is what I meant here.
I can't imagine we just have tons extra to part with, and there's the later repercussions of having medium to large amounts go missing.

>>703268
"You say we aren't bandits, yet here you are holding up a shipment of goods for a farm town that needs them dearly under threat of violence. Do you think i am making a profit out of this or something? We are already stretching out our resources as much as we can. Do what you must, but know that if i don't make it there a group of hunters will be sent this way and i don't believe your group has enough resources to win an atrition war againt City. Neither do we for that matter, but desperate times..."
Prepare to skeddadle out of here at the first sign of violence

>>703268
Also, what are our stats? I am getting the impression we are a fast flyer.
But we could also be like a vulture and be able to remain in flight with little energy spent for a stupid amount of time

>>703268
>TELL THEM THAT THE BACTI IS FOR INNOCENT FARMERS

Then do as >>703326 suggests

>>703373
>>703885
>>703382
>>703430

"Look...I don't have a lot of extra bacti on me. I just have enough for Flowers and me...I think."

You touch a corner of the map's black, blank screen and it tells you that you got twenty-five Ellison's worth of bacti. That's just enough to fulfill the needed shipment of twenty to Flowers and enough left over for trading and to feed yourself if something goes wrong on the trail.

"Yeah. I'm not exactly loaded here...Look, I'd like to think that you two aren't out doing this just for kicks and power. I'd like to think you're starving or know someone whose starving and that's why you're doing this. I don't think you're handling it the right way if that's the case but I understand. The whole world is as mean as it is hurt."

Lucy's sneer vanishes from her face. She looks at you with a softer, curious expression.

"If you need to eat I could cut my trail ration out. That would give you five bacti. But I'm not willing to screw over a bunch of isolated farmers."

"You can do better than five. Cut from their shipment. Their Manu can survive on less."

"That's true. But if anything would happen-a generator part breaks, or raiders attack the town, the Manu wouldn't have bacti to fall back on. And its not exactly fun to only DEVOUR enough to survive..."

"...Look at you. Acting so stupid and honorable. Who are you trying to fool?" Lucy sneers again, but this time it seems somewhat forced. "No one talks like that these day. I bet you got a secret cache on you. I bet you're loaded with bacti!"

"We won't let any Manu starve to death. But we don't really give a damn about their comfort. Or if they're tough enough to repel raiders. That's on them." Sara says. "Now make with ten Ellisons of bacti. I'm being as nice as I can be about this."

"You know if anything happens to me City is going to send a patrol out to check what happened? You really want City to be at war with Oak town?"

"He can try waging war if that's what he wants. But he's a Manu in a machine. He's been part machine a longggg time. One could even say he's mostly machine now. I think he'll do one of those "cost benefit" analysis things. He'll crunch the numbers as cold as Skynet and figure out that its way better to pay Oak city than it is to fight us."

"That's quite a risk you're willing to take. Would you mind if I ask why?"

"Because the center of power in America isn't going to be some damn Matsya-in-a-box."

"That simple huh?"

"That simple."

SAY? DO?

PAY TEN ELLISONS?

TRANSFORM AND FLY?

>>703994
>Transform!
>Flap out!
I'd rather wait for other anons to get here, so however long it takes to get a vote is cool.
It's still early.

>>703994
>"Then I'm sorry, but I can't give them to you..."
>TRANSFORM AND FLY

>>704011
>>704013

You slowly start folding away your pack and straps of belted bacti-batteries.

Folding is a Manu technique that traders such as yourself get a lot of practice using. It takes control of the matter/energy conversion field that surrounds all Manu that makes the transformation fro human to Manu possible. It allows you to cause things to vanish only to have them reappear later.

Children think its magical. It never fails to make them laugh with joy when you cause a flower from the bubble gardens to appear in your hand. And sometimes even the jaded adults crack a faint smile.

"Then I'm sorry...but I cant give them to you..."

The thunder is first.

The sudden displacement of so much air is like an explosion. Sara and Lucy are buffeted away on a tide of sand.

And now the lightning.

When they scramble to their feet even Sara can't help but stare with awe in her eyes at what you see.

"Holy fuck...you're enormous!" Lucy yells.

Without enhanced Manu sense you wouldn't be able to hear her where your head is.

You light up the wastes as you feel the familiar static crackle down your spine and tail feathers.

880 feet below your assailants are tiny dolls.

For now.

Which is why you haul ass out of there.

You stretch your wings and a bird the size of a battleship takes to the skies.

Grandfather didn't have enough pull in old Vaivasvata to make you a Manu just to protect you. He had to give his bosses a reason for you to be a Manu, a function for you to carry out. And he couldn't say "to be a weapon for the war that's coming" because very few actually believed a war was coming. You aren't a Gen 2.

So you became a living breathing electro-dynamo, an experiment in seeing if a Manu could be made that could survive on "inert" lifeless energy-electricity in particular.

You can go a long time without "living" energy. You still need it eventually. So in that way you're a failure.

In other ways you're far from a failure. Like being able to hit near-light speeds in an instant, transforming yourself into a living breathing bolt of electricity.

In a flash you vanish, and in a flash you reappear.

You float gently and effortlessly on the night air. For all your incredible size you can use static electricity to coast virtually indefinitely at any altitude. You star to scan for a place to land-you always have to scan the sands signs of movement. Tesseracts sometimes open beneath them opening sucking holes into the shredded remnants of the gravity gate that even you might not be able to escape.

And then you see a twinkle far in the distance getting closer and closer.

"You bastard! Running away like that!" The blur of light shouts in what sounds like Lucy's voice drowned in radio static. "Don't think you're the only Manu in all of existence fast as a bolt of lightning!"

She stops right at the tip of your beak, only about twice the size of an average person. "Now you give up and give us your damn bacti! Don't make me have to hurt you!"
-co

>>704050

She's vaguely humanoid. Her "body" is composed of several balls of brilliant white orbs of crackling lightning, like someone trapped a storm inside a snowglobe. They're connected by twisting, turning bolts of energy wound tight like corded muscle fibers.

Your enormous blue eyes focus on her and she floats a little bit away from you.

"I mean it! You're big...really big...but that doesn't mean anything!" She doesn't sound so sure of herself, but maybe that's just the static over her voice...

...Is she flinching?

APOCALYSE MANU: FOO FIGHTER

"I'm going to kick your ass if you make me fight you!"

"Me" she said...not "Us"...and come to think of it you don't sense anyone around besides her...

You're starting to think someone jumped the gun chasing after you...

SAY? DO?

RUN AWAY AGAIN

TALK TO HER (threateningly, gently, diplomatically)

ATTACK HER

>>704059
>Make a show of power, real impressive shit
>"This isn't a challenge. This isn't a threat. This is me tell you to go back to your friend and let me get on my way. We both have better things to do than fight just because you couldn't let this go. Just look at the world beneath us. Do you want to keep repeating the Old World's mistakes for your pride?"

>>704079
This. if it doesn't work, start draining her of her electricity in combat.

I don't know why, but for some reason I can't help but picture our Manu form as looking like a cross between Heaven's Sword Gundam and Horus from that God's of Egypt movie.

>>704079
>>704096

You decide to try intimidating her.

She thinks you're big? Wait until she sees the storms you can create.

THUNDER HEAD

PHYSICAL:4
MENTAL:4
SENSES:6

ENERGY RESERVES: 60

ENERGY RECHARGE RATE: 20

CURRENT ENERGY: 40 (you used 20 to BOLT CRASH away)

LIFE:50

ATTACKS:

WING CUT (You're wings are deadly in addition to looking like sheets of solid blue water hammered into delicate glass)

DIVE ATTACK (Riskier then wing cutter, deals more damage at the cost of rolling the attack at -2)

ENERGY ATTACKS:

STORM CALL: You discharge skyscraper-sized columns of lightning from out of the air. Can be used as an area attack or concentrated against a single foe for massive damage (20 energy)

Roll is Senses based.

JUDGEMENT: A burst of electric energy discharged from your wingtips. You can control the direction of the discharge better than the wild storms of STORM CALL making it a very accurate attack. (10 energy)

Roll is Senses based +2.

BOLT CRASH: Temporarily transform yourself into pure electrical energy and dash at your enemy. The move is extremely fast and extremely sudden and can be used to interrupt enemy attacks. (20 energy)

Roll is Physical based.

FINISHER:

Gae Bulg: Transform all your power, all your bulk, into a single blindingly bright bolt of energy that stabs the enemy before splintering into a lighting storm inside them.

Essentially a more powerful version of BOLT CRASH where you not only transform into energy but shrink yourself down into a single bolt that can pierce through the strongest defenses)

Lose next turn (and become vulnerable) and divide health in half after using Gae Bolg.

Roll is equal to total energy spent.

DAMAGE CHART:

WING CUTTER: 5

DIVE ATTACK: 10

STORM CALL: 10 area, 15 single target

JUDGEMENT:10

BOLT CRASH: 20

GAE BOLG: Equal to Energy spent.

.......

ROLL 3 1D20+6 TO INTIMATE FOO FIGHTER WITH A STORM CALL ATTACK!

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>704235

>>704235

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>704235

>>704278
Goddamn it all to hell.

>>704245
>>704280
Just need one more roll. It can go either way...

Yiska's theme is being a big bird that can tank damage and dish it out. His weakness is fighting more than one enemy. Storm Call is his only answer to swarms and he can't move or effect enemies like Yuki or C'Mell could. One-on-one fights are where he shines. Gae Bulg can one shot most enemies at max power. Rolling at +50 to deal 50 damage is brutal-but it only targets one enemy and halves your health as well as taking a turn from you and leaving you vulnerable. Be sure you either have someone to protect you while you're vulnerable that turn or that you're using it on the very last enemy.

Rolled 3 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>704280
My luck is awful, I'm scared to roll again

but, if it helps...

>>704235
please roll well...

>>704344
Really?
The exact same roll?
Goddamn my luck...

>>704344
We can use another roll sense you already rolled.

Rolled 12 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>704235
I'll try and lend a hand.

Waiting patiently for the other two quests, but I'll help out.

>>704390
praise a kind QG

>>704394
And praise good rolls!

>>704394
>>704344
>>704280

The darkness of the evening sky is banished from horizon to horizon as columns of electricity throw themselves down to Earth like angry waterfalls but louder. All of existence seems to shake with the sound. You can feel the thunder. It is a comforting feeling, as comfortable as the beating of your own heart.

For Lucy its incredibly terrifying.

One of the first things they tell you when you become a Manu is that what's big and loud is not deadly to you. Nuclear weapons failed to harm even the weakest Manu because their kinetic force was dissipated over a large surface area. To break a Manu's armor one needs to concentrate power to a small point. A tiny beam of energy is not as frightening nor as impressive as a blast the size of a building. But the beam will kill you. The blast will feel like a stiff breeze, if even that.

But its hard to suppress the innate human instinct that the the large and bright and loud is dangerous. As Lucy proves.

"No...no...NO!" She pulls away and begins to streak off into the distance. "Sara! SARA!!!"

Well that worked. You turn and coast on a wave of shimmering static. You want to put as much distance from the two bandits as possible before they regroup.

After a few minutes of flying you figure you've given them the slip and start to look for a safe place to land.

And that's when you hear it.

A pattern on the radio waves.

You tune into it.

"...help...deliver us...can't go on like..."

A distress signal?

Or a trap?

ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION (Sense Roll). WILL GIVE YOUR POSITION AWAY IF YOU DO.

IGNORE THE DISTRESS CALL?

INVESTIGATE DISTRESS CALL?

>>705046
>ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION
It's the end of the world. Saving anyone should be a priority.
That doesn't mean we should stumble into it blindly.
Pus, hopefully, we can outrun anything that comes after us.

>>705046
>Investigate

>>705111
Do this.

>>705111
>>705176
>Establish communication

You manipulate the latent electric charges in the air to carry your voice back over the radio signal. Its risky, but if you can talk to whoever is sending out the message maybe you'll stand a better chance at helping them?

ROLL 3 1D20+6

Rolled 9 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>705262

Rolled 6 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>705262

Rolled 10 + 6 (1d20 + 6)

>>705262

>>705274
>>705289
>>705404

You vibrate air molecules to a make a voice-you're quite good at it. It sounds almost like your human voice. Its just a little flatter, which in this case might be for the best. You want to sound calm to whoever is sending the distress signal.

"-Spirits of the air, oh kind creatures, please hear our plea!" The voice is that of a young woman. "We ask of you in our time of need, please strengthen the great owl that protects our valley!"

What the hell are you even listening to? Is this some sort of radio play recording you're picking up?

"Uh...hi."

"AHHHHH!" You hear a cacophony of voices speak to one another.

"It worked!"

"A spirit!"

"What do I do?"

"I can't believe it worked!"

"What do I say?"

"Your'e the priestess you think of something!"

"Uh...Uh...great spirit?"

Okay. This is weird. You clearly aren't talking to anybody from a settlement. They sound like characters from books Linda reads.

"...My name is Yiska."

"PRAISE BE YISKA!"

"...I'm a trader from City..."

"A trader? Are you a god of commerce?"

"What does he mean by a city?"

"The city of the gods stupid."

"Gods live in cities?"

"Where else would they live? The dead wastes?"

"I thought they would live in forests. You know, the wood palaces before the Day of Dust."

"Uh excuse me..." You say. "I think I have something I need to say to you folks..."

SAY? DO?

PRETEND TO BE A GREAT SPIRIT?

>>705515
>Be theatrical, but don't admit to godhood
>"I am a traveler, trading in the bones of the Old World. Where are you? Do you need help? And do you have anything to trade that isn't human life?"

>>705515
Listen, the thing you're in front of? That's a radio, probably a HAM or something. You're not supposed to use it unless you have an emergency situation, namely things like someone dying or being attacked by bandits or something of that nature. Now, from what it sounds like, you need help, so I won't just leave you now. Can you tell me what is the problem?

>>705515
>Be honest
I'm a Manu.
I thought this was a distress call and wanted to see if I could help.
Although I guess you aren't the first to be convinced I'm a spirit of sorts.
Anyway, what seems to be the issue?

>>705710
I don't think they're going to understand what a Manu even is.

>>706528
>Inb4 they think it's a type of spirit
Attempts were made

>>705559
Also, tell them we have a mission to complete before we can visit, and that we only would prioritize them if they are under dire straits. So "please state your situation" with a hint of a threat to not waste our time.

>>706624
We are name after the Lemurians of Hinduism, after all.

>>705559
>>705710
These. Maybe tone down some of the ham, but not all of it. Ham is good.

File: Spoiler Image (249 KB, 400x400)

249 KB PNG

There you go again, i really struggled to come up with how to illustrate Foo Fighter It sure is JoJo around here This one sure is an abstract one.
I know the mask isn't lore-friendly but otherwise i couldn't find a way to make the head stand out.

(Fixe the arm)

>>705559
>>705565
>>705710
>>706528
>>706624

"...I am a TRAVELER!" You say with a theatrical air. Whoever these people are they don't seem to know much about how the world works.

You didn't jump that far when you flew away from Sara and Lucy. This should still be known and mapped territory. Whoever is contacting you is doing so from a secretive place.

...Wait. Did she say "valley"? Sense when are there valleys in the Dust Lands?

And that "Great Owl"...their Manu? They'd have to have a generator and a Manu to survive out here. But if that's so then why do they sound like a dungeons and dragons session?

Oh well. You figure the best way to get answers will be to play along. If they want to roleplay you'll roleplay to. "I am a traveler who trades in the bones of the Old World. Where are you? Do you need help? And do you have anything to trade that isn't human life?"

"...Bones of the old world...is he a death spirit?" One asks in hushed tones.

"Is he the great wolf? The one who ferried the goddess of the old world to her final resting place in Tok-Yo?"

"Wonderful job Gwenny, you contacted the great wolf of death herself!"

"Shut up! Did that sound like a female voice to you?"

"Gods can sound like anything they want,, didn't you tell us that?"

"I'm the priestess! I know what I'm doing!"

Clearly they don't know how to use a radio...

"Oh...Oh great Yiska...We are in Preservation Valley. We are humans the Great Owl protected from the Day of Dust. He is our lord and protector and...and he needs help. A great demon from the outside wastes wounded him and...and if you are the great wolf of the dead please don't claim him! We still need him! We have much to trade that isn't human life...but if you like we'd gladly lay down our own lives for him!"

"Woah woah woah. Slow down there." You say taking the theatricality down a few notches. "I'm not the great wolf of the dead or a spirit of the dead or dead anything. I'm a Manu."

"A Manu?"

"What? Found something not in your scriptures Lily?" Another voice hisses.

"What is...Manu?"

WHAT IS MANU?

>>708751
I love it! The mask is actually really neat. I think I might canonize it.

>>709554
>scriptures Lily
Gwenny. Fucked up the names there.

>>709554
Eeh... It's complicated. I probably am something similar to this great owl you are talking about.
I am under a mission to supply another settlement. Describe your situation in detail and with as little embelishment as possible. How damaged is this "Great Owl"?

Can we share energy we collect with other Manus? If only to help him not starve? I dread to see what would happen if a Manu became feral on their followers

>>709555
Oh, thank you, i actually did come up with a way to make a recognizable face using just the spheres but it was lost in a crash. After that, there was no way i could replicate it.

Also, the shovel is not a signature

>>709554
>the great wolf? The one who ferried the goddess of the old world to her final resting place in Tok-Yo
So, we finally pushed C'Mell to her limits and she decided we were only one this world would be best without?

>>709554
>"That's... complicated. It's easy enough to just call us powerful beings. We don't all agree on what it means to be a Manu, but I think that's accurate enough. We have human forms and another, more bizarre form we can take."
>"Does your Owl ever talk about remnants, rebels, or matsayas? Does he take a human form too? And what's this about a great demon?"

"if you can help me find you I can bring owl some help."

>>709606
This to explain.

>>709586
SUPER SPOILERS It was a mercy killing

>>709576
>>709606
>>709680
"What's a Manu? Oh boy...that's...complicated. Its easy enough to cal us powerful beings. We don't all agree on what it means to be a Manu-"

You've heard a lot of answers to the question-"failures", "monsters", 'people", "heroes", "tools". Its not a hard question to answer. Its a hard question to answer with a single answer.

"-But I think that's accurate enough. We have human forms and another, more bizarre form we take."

"You...are a human?"

"Well you did say they can look like anything they want Gwenny..."

"But what does that...I mean do you take on the appearance of a human or do you become human?"

What a weird question...

'Uh...does it really matter?"

"D-does it Lord Yiska? Is this some sort of test?"

Your'e so glad your'e using your electric voice. If you weren't you'd probably groan.

"No. Its not a test. It doesn't matter. Look, I take it your Owl doesn't take a human form?"

"Why no..."

"Does he ever talk about remnants, rebels, or matsyas? Or how about City?"

"Uh...no. He's never mentioned any of those things..."

Okay. Weird.

"What's this about a great demon?"

"It came out of the wastes, a horrible thing shaped like death itself!"

"Can you be a little more descriptive?"

"It was larger than the Great Owl! Almost as large as the mountains! A thing that looked like a person but its limbs were all wrong and it was as red as blood and it had a mouth that opened halfway up its head!"

Well. That doesn't sound like any Manu you know. But then again you haven't memorized the registry. You'll check the one built in to the map when you have hands again. But something tells you you aren't going to find anything. Those bandits attacking you earlier means Oak City is doing some serious muscling. Its conceivable that they've been creating Manu under the radar to start muscling in on territory. This giant blood guy sounds like he might be an Oak City weapon.

"How damaged is this Great Owl?"

"He's...he's dying!" You hear the speaker on the other end break down in sobs.

"Gwenny! Don't show weakness in front of the great spirit!"

"He-he won't tell anyone but he's getting worse and worse and you have to help him. Please Great Yiska, we'll do anything!"

SAY? DO?

HEAD BACK TO CITY. ITS RISKY LEAVING THIS OWL MANU LIKE HE IS BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU MIGHT NEED HELP IF OAK CITY IS ON THE WARPATH

HEAD OVER IMMEDIATELY. YOU STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF STABILIZING HIM WITH ELECTRICITY IF YOU HEAD OVER THERE NOW

>>710393
>Head over immediately
no time for a return trip it seems...

>>710393
>HEAD OVER IMMEDIATELY. YOU STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF STABILIZING HIM WITH ELECTRICITY IF YOU HEAD OVER THERE NOW

"I'll see what I can do."

>>710393
>HEAD OVER IMMEDIATELY. YOU STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF STABILIZING HIM WITH ELECTRICITY IF YOU HEAD OVER THERE NOW

>"Alright, I'm coming to help."

>>710393
Can we send alert to city in any way?

Regardless, let's go stabilize this owl.
Also, we'll have a stern talk with this "Great Owl" about trying to pss yourself as a god. We don't want these people to be overly optimistic, no no. It's the end of the world sistah', you have to brood.


>spoiler
Now i want to read these scriptures.

Also, requesting all info we have on Oak city. I thought they were just a settlement where some manu wandered in and could be easily destroyed if we convinced the City they were worth the effort. But if they can make their own manus, well that's different.
How are manus made, anyway?

>>711794
>Spoiler.
When a man and an Eldritch horror from behind the besant love eachother very much.

>>711817
I was specting a reference to the stork, but that works too

>>710561
>>710776
>>710881

Shit. Well, this won't be the first time you've been behind in your runs. Flowers can hold on awhile while you sort things out. They got a pretty tough Manu, a black guy named Smith.

"I'm coming to help you. Just hold on and keep the frequency on."

"Er, what do you mean by frequency?"

Oh dear god...

"That...thing you're using to talk to me is a radio, probably a HAM."

"Is that what this creature is called? Ham?"

"Is the metal part of its body or is it more like a container?"

"What does a ham eat?"

You'd slap your head with one of your wings but you're using them to churn static and keep yourself aloft.

"Just keep things as they are. Don't touch it."

"Will it bite? Reynard said it bit him once when he touched it, like invisible teeth closed on his finger."

"Just don't touch anything..." The feathers of your wings glow like stain glass shards lit up with neon as you reorient your internal polarity and begin to streak through the sky. "I'm closing in on you through the radio's signal."

"Oh! I undestand! It's like finding someone far away by hearing their voice! That's simple!"

"Yeah, like that."

"Do we need to keep talking to you Great Yiska?"

"No, not really. I mean you can if you want but I'm not finding you through YOUR voice, I'm finding you through the uh, voice of Ham."

"Oh...I guess it isn't so simple then. But Ham's voice is so soft and scratchy and my voice is so loud, how do you find us through his voice and not our own?"

"Well.." You struggle to explain radio to these refugees from Prydain. Hey, it gives you something to talk to them about as you fly over. "...Ham's voice sort of carries yours. I hear yours because it's carried on his."

"So you hear soft sounds but not...loud sounds unless a soft sound carries them?"

"What Great Yiska says does tie into Brother Reynard's theories on divine harmonics, Sister Guinevere. Ham could be harmonizing your speech and translating it to a higher realm of reality."

"Great Yiska...I appologize." Guinevere says.

"For what?"

"I am not head priestess. I am only an apprentice and I...I sort of promoted myself to the position because head priestess Mary is busy tending to the Great Owl..."

"And because she didn't approve of your plan!"

"Shut up Elaine! I mean, excuse me Great Yiska...a head priestess should know about stuff like Ham and radios and Manu and what not right? I know I probably sound like the biggest idiot right now and I'm sorry. If there was one more knowledgeable than myself I'd have you talk to her..."

SAY? DO?

>>716217
"Nah, no need. Don't touch anything. I'll be right there. Just tell me something, what was this Great Owl "feeding" on before? You ever saw some sort of capsules being brought to him?"

>>716217
>SibellaQuest !118LTnv3DE
Sir. QG. Pull yourself together.

>Tell her it's okay, she's doing well. It's a big, dead world out there and she can't be expected to know everything about it.
>Instead, have her tell us about her group as we travel.

>>716217
Quietly swear to god were going to redpill them so hard.

>>716237 then this.

>>711794
>Talk with this "Great Owl"

We'll have the choice whether to red pill Wind Valley about the world or to let them preserve their idyllic pseudo-medieval existence.

>Now I want to read these scriptures

We haven't gone to far in the "main" quest but there's a lot of Easter eggs in this one pertaining to the past and Wind Valley's library is filled with them.

>How are Manu made?

Before the Day of Dust humans were slowly altered over a month and built up into a Manu through the installation of Besant-sensitive organs that allowed them to perform the complex reality-shifting necessary to transform.

Its still possible to create Manu post-apocalypse, City has a Manu conversion center inside himself, buts its even more time consuming with so many sensitive instruments and organ grafting machines lost to the ages. It takes a year or more to create a Manu and these "Gen 3s" are noticeably weaker than the previous generations. A big weakness is that they all have a mental and sense scores of 0 with a few exceptions. This is because with the collapse of the Besant they can't be created with Besant particles like previous generations. They can't have psychic powers, and they can't have the Besant boosted hyper-senses and teleporation reflexes that help protect from telefragging and direct molecular control. Many Gen 3's don't even have an alternate human form.

In short, Gen 3's are cannon fodder and usually have to rely on previous generations to be "generals" with abilities that cover their blindspots.

>Oak City

From your records its a fairly prosperous settlement built around the ruins of Dallas. They've been open and accommodating to traders and their leader is a Manu by the name of Adam who transforms into a moderately-powerful dragon looking Manu.

This sudden shift to martial expansion and anti-City sentiment is very strange and seems to have come out of nowhere.

>>716265
QG, your trip....

File: Atleast I'm somebody right.jpg (63 KB, 473x633)

63 KB JPG

>>716240
>>716271

>>716265
I'd rather not totally throw them once we get there
Helping is one thing, social upheaval is another.

>>716265
So, Gen 1 are animal-like manus with great variety of powers. These ones seemed to be the experiments and the "workers"
Gen 2 are humanoid looking while being made of liquid like the T-1000. These ones seemed to be the anti-manu soldiers.
And Gen 3 are an unnoficial generation. These just suck.

Where do abstract ones like Mandala fit in?

Also, will those documents reveal if we did romance Earthmother ?

>>716297
Mandala is gen 1. They aren't all animal looking.

And the scriptures will reveal Earth Mother's fate.

>>716491
So Gen 1 had all the best designs, just like in Pokemon

I kid, i kid.

>>716287
XD possibly even velo. Nigga please.

>>716757
What is this hot new meme?

>>717016
Velo was a QM that tried to influence the votes on his own quest by pretending to be a player, when he got caught, qst took a page from George Carlin playbook and dissed the absolute shit out of him.

He survives on the great life support system. Mechanical Emergency Metabolic Extension. Or Meme for short.

>>718632
That's stupid, if you are the QM you can veer your quest in the direction you want without resorting to those kinds of tricks

>>719194
>>718632
When he got caught he tried to do the same thing in the general everyone was talking about him in.

Then he became a character in Trick's GOT Quest and voted to not have his avatar bottom during gay sex and lost and then voted to have his avatar commit suicide and lost.

There's not much lower he can sink to.

>>716620
But its true...

>>716237
>>716243
'Nah, no need. Don't touch anything. I'll be right there. Just tell me something, what was this Great Owl "feeding" on before?"

"Feeding? Do spirits like you feed? The Great Owl has no need for food or drink like we mortals..."

Okay. Try phrasing it again. It might not look like "feeding" to them.

"Does he have...certain capsules? Things he asks you to bring him? Things he's supposed to collect?"

"There are the sacred lights if that's what you're talking about. He soars high above the clouds to the land of the gods and returns with them. They allow him to remain on Earth."

Bingo. Sounds like Mr. Owl has a contact somewhere outside his territory providing him with bacti. Good to know. The plot thickens...

"Okay. Just wondering. Sit tight an I'll be-"

A burst of white noise smothers the connection. You jerk around and see a familiar collection of electric orbs darting toward you.

"You jerk! Got so confident I wasn't going to chase you down that you started talking on the radio to someone! Well screw you! I know what this is about, you're radioing for backup, going to get a crew together and hunt me and my sister down! Well I'll stop you! We're not going to get captured because I let you go!"

"Just walk away!" You yell sternly. To be even more intimidating you open your beak and show the light of the electric storm raging in your gullet. "JUST LEAVE!"

Foo Fighter stops. "...I can't let you capture us. I cant let you summon your buddies!" She says with uncertainty.

SAY? DO?

DOUBLE DOWN ON FRIGHTENING HER AWAY

EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO HER. PEOPLE NEED HELP. SOMEONE IS DYING AND SHE'S STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT

FIGHT HER

FLY AWAY

>>720988
>EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO HER. PEOPLE NEED HELP. SOMEONE IS DYING AND SHE'S STANDING IN THE WAY OF THAT

I had legitimately almost totally forgotten about her and her friend.

What are the odds that this Owl is abusing this little cult of his?

>>720988
>DOUBLE DOWN ON FRIGHTENING HER AWAY
"I already sent the message, but since you are so cute i decided to do you a favor and told them i wasn't able to get a clear reading on you. So you and your companion still have a chance to walk out of this unscathed. GO."

I roll to bluff

>>720988
>spoiler
But as much as i love gen1, it doesn't have Mareep

>>721172
This.

>>720988
I actually didn't know the part where his avatar was made to take a dick, nicely done.

>>721132
You'll see...

>>721172
>>721275

"I already sent the message, but since you're a cute little storm of plasma I decided to do you a favor and told them I wasn't able to get a clear reading on you. So they're on their way but they don't have your trail. You and your companion still have a chance to walk out of this unscathed. GO!"

ROLL 3 1D20

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>721654

>>721675
huh, I guess my rolls are only good when they're for something I didn't want.

>>721654

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>721893
Come on damn you!

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>721654
Oh, sorry, didn't know you updated already

>>723785
Shit, sorry guys.
This put us down to 12

>>723788
Foo Fighters flinches nervously. She jerks like sparks from a broken power line. "No...no...no! You'd send them after us anyway! Don't act like you're some kind of superhero, those are just make believe! If I don't take you down you'll take us down, that's how it works!"

"I'm being on the level here Lucy. You can't beat me. And I don't want to hurt you. I'm being nice. Go. Away."

"I-I-I..."

She stands as stiffly as her vibrating form allows her, not wanting to attack, but not trusting you not to attack.

ATTACK

ESCAPE

DOUBLE DOWN ON SCARING HER

I NEED TO GO HELP PEOPLE. MAYBE YOU CAN COME ALONG AND HELP AND MAKE SURE I DON'T SEND PEOPLE AFTER YOU?

>>728028

>I NEED TO GO HELP PEOPLE. MAYBE YOU CAN COME ALONG AND HELP AND MAKE SURE I DON'T SEND PEOPLE AFTER YOU?

>BUT TRY ANYTHING FUNNY AND ILL OVERLOAD YOU SO QUICKLY YOU'LL GO RIGHT TO THE MOON.

>>728057
But, if we do that she'll know we didn't send a distress signal to the City.

"What do you think that will happen? Normal protocol says i must destroy the bacti if i am about to die to discourage banditry. I am giving you a chance to escape unharmed. Do as you must, i have a mission to complete"

>Leave at a brisk but not rushed speed. We won't antagonize her further but we aren't scared either

>>728089
She would, its a risk. But so is running away from her. We'd have to first escape her and then elude her-unless we want to escape back to City.

>>728106
I think we are close to breaking her morale.
We can also add
"Tell me, what about your friend? You left her all alone. What do you think that would happen if the patrol i called finds her on her own? They won't attack her right away, i believe, because i gave them no description. But if she loses her calm... Look, i am sure you have a lot of convinction in your cause. The only reason i am letting you go is because you don't have the foggiest idea of how serious is your current situation. Take this chance, there won't be another. LEAVE"

So, i guess more intimidation?

>>728028
>I NEED TO GO HELP PEOPLE. MAYBE YOU CAN COME ALONG AND HELP AND MAKE SURE I DON'T SEND PEOPLE AFTER YOU

>>728028
>I NEED TO GO HELP PEOPLE. MAYBE YOU CAN COME ALONG AND HELP AND MAKE SURE I DON'T SEND PEOPLE AFTER YOU?

>>728057
Okay, i'll change my vote to this too

>>729897
>>729697
>>729912

You stare her down with your eyes pulsing arcs of blue electricity.

"I need to go help people.If you like, you can come along and make sure I don't send people after you. Maybe you'd even help."

She flinches, taken aback by what you just said.

"You mean watch you make you deliveries? What the hell are you-"

"I got a distress call from a settlement in danger. A lot of danger."

"Danger? I mean we're starting to take the roads but no one said anything about actually attacking settlements..."

"So you Oak guys haven't gone full raider yet? That's good to know."

"We aren't thieves and we aren't raiders! We're just claiming territory no one's had the guts to claim before now!"

You turn away from her, careful to still keep her glow in the corner of your vision. "I'm going now. People need help."

"Well hold on!" She makes a couple of nervous movements toward you. "Say I believe you, what settlement is this? Who's attacking who?"

"New settlement. They seem to have been kept in isolation by their Manu and think we're all ancient spirits. They talk like they're from a dungeons and dragons session."

"Wait wait wait hold on. You expect me to believe that? That there's some new settlement this close to the City trad routes that you just now found and just now needs help?"

"Yeah."

"...Well shit. You have to be telling the truth. No lie is that stupid. So they just contacted you through radio?"

"Yeah. You're sort of interfering with the signal. Can you do anything about that?"

"I could yeah....you know if I didn't think you were telling me the truth this would be a real easy way to get me to un-jam a communications line direct to City militia..."

"I thought you said you believed me?"

"I do I do...I just really hope you aren't lying. Otherwise I'm going to look so retarded..."

"I'm sure the settlement appreciates it. Now if you say anything to them don't freak the out. They're like medeival peasants or something. Real primitive. They think Manu are ancient spirits and that they're the last group of humans on Earth."

The soft white noise in the back of you head clears and you begin to hear Gwenny chanting. "Oh great Yiska, great spirit, please do not forsake us. Oh great Yiska, great spirit, please do not forsake us..."

"...Holy shit you really weren't lying..."

"Now remember what I said. Don't spook them."

"Hey medieval people-"

You hear Gwenny Scream and the sound of objects crashing and banging against each other. "G-Great Yiska? Is that you?"

"This is Lucy. I'm from Oak City. I'm a an electric Manu. You guys okay?"

"Who-who are....?"

"Lucy is a Manu spirit just like myself. She uh, interrupted Ham's communion with the world of the spirits but she's stopped now-"

"Who the fuck is Ham?" Lucy asks off the radio.

"Ham radio. They think its a living creature."

"Oh dear god...these guys are stupid..."

"They've probably been screened from a lot of truth sense they were born. Don't call them stupid."
-cont

>>730549
You continue to broadcast. "She's going to be helping me help you guys."

"I didn't say that!" She says with a shake of her golden mask as bright as a lightning bolt. "I'm not going to get involved in a fight I know nothing about!"

"...Although, she is something of a cowardly, capricious, and flighty spirit so she might run out on us. But its okay. I'm not going to."

Her electricity crackles angrily. "I didn't say I WASN'T going to help either. Jerk."

WIND VALLEY IS A LITTLE WAYS OFF. DO YOU WANT TO OFFER FOO FIGHTER A RIDE?

DO YOU DEMAND THE TWO OF YOU KEEP A FAIR DISTANCE?

DO YOU DEMAND SHE TRAVELS IN FRONT OF YOU?

>>730591
>OFFER FOO FIGHTER A RIDE

>>730591
>DO YOU WANT TO OFFER FOO FIGHTER A RIDE?
How are you doing? Energy wise i mean. Do you need me to carry you there? I can fly long distances without depleting my reserves

Also, ask about her friend.

>>730591
>OFFER FOO FIGHTER A RIDE
Get on, nerd.

>>730630
Before i go, i am going to add:
If she agrees to the ride and does it in human form
[Flirty yet mocking]"Now, hold me tight"
And start asceding quickliy before she has a chance to say naything

>>730742
>>730630
>>730608
>>730591

You offer her a ride. "How you doing for energy? You've caught up to me twice in a flash, that's got to drain you a little."

"Heh." She folds her two lightning storms shaped into arms. "I'm good. But hey, if you're willing to offer up an Ellison or two of bacti to help recharge my batteries..."

"I was offering you a ride." You lower yourself a little. "I'm a tanker-style Manu. I got lots of energy. Its part of why I'm so damn enormous."

"...It would be more efficient overall wouldn't it?" Foo Fighter admits. "I mean its better than just burning energy for no reason and I don't think I could carry you, at least not as easy as you could carry me..."

"You can get on. Its okay."

"You sure? I mean its not exactly a smart move. I could easily stab you in the back if I wanted to."

"What's with you and always thinking about deceptions and twists?"

"Its what the world runs off us. Even you lied about being in contact with City."

"But I don't go around going "Is this a good move? Does this leave me or him vulnerable?". You act like the world is a giant chess game."

"It has been ever sense the goddamn Mats invaded. There's just fewer pieces now."

"Well you already trusted me about the settlement not being City. Isn't it only fair that I trust you not to stab lightning bolt in the back?"

"That DOES make sense. Alright fine. I'll ride."

"Get on nerd."

"Nerd?"

"Hey. We're going to a dungeons and dragons session. We're both nerds."

Foo Fighter zips through the air and stops at a cautious hover over your back. "So uh...where do I sit? Your head? Your back? One of the wings?"

"Anywhere is fine."

After a moment's consideration she lands on top of your head. You feel her columns of electricity merge with the faint cloud of static energy around you.

It sort of tickles.

"Feels like I'm standing in a whirlpool."

"Is it okay?"

"Yeah. Feels weird but not bad."

You reverse the polar charge in your wings and begin building up speed to your destination.

"So about the other person in your group?"

"Sara's far behind us. She's not fast like you or I. Don't worry thought. She's not going to kill you. Odds are she's gonna kill me though."

"So I take it I get a pass on the road?"

"After all this shit...yeah yeah I guess so. It wouldn't feel right beating up a guy after getting to ride on top of his head. Consider it a once in a lifetime exception. Remember that from now on those roads are Oak city roads."

"You know a lot of people are going to be mad about it. Fighting mad."

"Like who? City? Yeah. Its sort of the point to piss him off. If he can even get angry anymore."

"He can. I've gotten enough tongue lashings from him for lingering in really hospitable settlements to know that he's still got some of his emotions. You know City doesn't keep more than an emergency militia though. You aren't going to get trouble from him, not directly."

"But the other times might start acting up. We know, we know."
-cont

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24 KB GIF

>>732368
"Hey, you are pretty swell. How come we never met before?"
Time to subtly gather information about her and her people

It seems strange that City is the sole center of America, considering he doesn't hold the biggest military force.
Is it just because of the Bacti? How hard is it to make that stuff anyway?

And finally, in my series of inane questions. Did the Earth turn into the Nightland or something?

>>732368
"But the other towns might start acting up. We know, we know. We planned this shit a long time. There's going to be a shit storm, but things will stabilize once settlements get used to the idea of us being the new de facto power in America."

"Sounds like you all have a lot riding on this. Why?"

"Sara told you. We don't want a Mats being the big boss of America, not after everything that's happened."

"But City isn't fighting for Vaivasvata. No one fights for any of the old factions. There's no point anymore."

"He's a Mats. He's in power. We're going to take him down. How is this hard for you to understand?"

"I guess I was hoping there was more to this than old grudges."

"You can't just forget things that kill the world. You look up you see the moon. You look down you see the dust lands. You can't forget."

"I"m not asking anyone to forget. I'm just asking for people to move on."

.....

THE SIGNAL IS GETTING STRONG. HOW DO YOU APPROACH WIND VALLEY?

CAUTIOUSLY. TAKE CARE YOU AREN'T SPOTTED BY THE GREAT OWL OR WHOEVER THEY HAVE AT GUARD

SNEAK IN. INFILTRATE THIS COMMUNITY AND FIND OUT WHATS GOING ON

DECLARE YOUR PRESENCE LOUD AND PROUD. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS A THREAT

>>732483
>Nightland
Never heard of this but it looks awesome.

Shake it like a snowglobe to simulate the reality storms that make everything shift and that's what the world is like.

City is the big power in America because he's a giant bacti factory. You need biological material to grow Bacti and a surplus of that is in short supply. City has a bunch of city-sized bio farms to facilitate production of bacti. Because of the farms they also export a lot of food and water.

Enter LOUD AND PROUD!
"FORSOOTH!"


>>732524
>Never heard of this but it looks awesome.
The sun goes out without destroying everything
Earth is only kept from becoming a desicated wasteland by the volcanic activity
At some point pre-Lovecraft Lovecraftnian aliens came and left half human montrosities, creatures that defy all understanding, abominations that seek to destroy humanity for reasons not even they might understand and are to big and powerful to comprehend.
Humans live in a giant mountain under an energy dome to keep all the horrible away
All is horrible, you are going to die, your sould is going to get killed, you can only hope you die before the horrible and inevitable end.

Welcome to the Nightland!
Also, it reads more like fantasy/horror than sci fi or existential horror, surprisingly.

>>732524
>DECLARE YOUR PRESENCE LOUD AND PROUD. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS A THREAT

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133 KB PNG

I don't even know if the apache chief is suppossed to be blue

>>732953
Nice!

>>732703
>>732575

"Do you see any lights in the sky?" You ask over the radio as you feel yourself grow closer to the settlement.

"No Great Yiska. The sky is as normal as it always is."

"So they can't see us...what does that mean?" Lucy asks.

"Maybe they're underground? Sort of like Diamond Web City or Crystal Town."

"So they're morlocks? Great."

"Hey. Don't call them morlocks. They're good people that do a lot with a little."

"I have a question." You speak again over the radio. "What does the moon look like to you at night."

"Oh...grant me a moment to think Great Yiska...it is like a drop of silver on an ocean of darkness. The stars are like its reflection multiplied deep, deep down in the depths of the celestial waters..."

Foo Fighter rolls on your head with laughter.

"That's very pretty Gwenny, but I'm referring to
how they look, as in to your eyes. I done mean poetically."

"Oh...I'm sorry. It's round. And bright. But sometimes it isn't you know? It changes...but perhaps you do not know? Do you not have a moon in the world beyond the Dust Lands?"

SAY? DO?

OUR MOON IS A CRACKED AND BROKEN THING

IT IS...DIFFERENT

OUR MOON IS YOUR MOON

>>734169
>OUR MOON IS A CRACKED AND BROKEN THING
>What you see is what it was. What it should be.

>>734169
I think refering to it as a singular thing no longer applies

>>734169

>OUR MOON IS A CRACKED AND BROKEN THING.

>Did they get caught in a reality storm?

Page ten. Next thread we see what Wind Valley is like...and where exactly it is

So what do you guys think about the post apocalypse? Any questions about the setting and characters?

We'll be returning to Yuki and C'Mell soon, I promise.

>>737374
I'm definitely curious about what the landscape looks like now, and just what kind of legacy Yuki left behind her.

>>737374
I was thinking about making a mockup of the map thingy with the settlements being represented by small tokens with small details that represent each one.

So, any information about the interface of the device and the settlements we know, and what makes them stand out, you could give me would be fantastic